Château LA LAGUNE - Moulin La Lagune - Magnum 2018
In Ludon-Médoc, at the gates of the Margaux appellation, Château La Lagune occupies one of the first great gravelly hills encountered when traveling up the Médoc road. The wine history of the place dates back to the late 16th century, while the estate has experienced a new momentum since its acquisition by the Frey family in 2000. Caroline Frey has developed an approach attentive to natural balances, biodiversity, and the precise expression of gravelly terroirs. Moulin du Château La Lagune represents another expression of the estate, made with the same strict selection and vinification standards as the grand vin. The plots destined for this cuvée rest on light gravel associated with silica, in an environment particularly favorable to Médoc grape varieties. In 2018, the vines included in its blend had an average age of about twenty years. Presented in magnum, this vintage benefits from a format particularly favorable to slow and harmonious evolution in the cellar.
Moulin du Château La Lagune 2018 blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Petit Verdot, and 10% Merlot, an original composition that gives Petit Verdot a particularly important place. The harvest took place from September 27 to October 4, after a season marked by several hail episodes but concluded with a harvest offering beautiful aromatic intensity. The grapes were hand-picked in small crates, with a first sorting in the vineyard followed by manual and optical sorting at the winery. The harvest was fully destemmed before traditional vinification accompanied by deliberately gentle extraction. Maceration lasted about three weeks to build body without hardening the tannins. Aging then lasted twelve months in French oak barrels, 40% of which were new wood, with malolactic fermentation. The vintage is 14% alcohol and thus combines depth, spices, and freshness in a structured expression of Haut-Médoc.
The color shows a deep garnet hue, still supported by ruby nuances. The nose opens on blackcurrant and black fruits, quickly accompanied by licorice and black pepper, a profile particularly consistent with the high proportion of Petit Verdot. Upon aeration, notes of violet, cedar, graphite, and softer spices appear. The palate has a smooth and generous attack, followed by a firm but well-integrated tannic structure. Cabernet Sauvignon brings length and a straight framework, while Petit Verdot enhances the depth, color, and spicy dimension of the whole. The freshness of the vintage maintains a precise balance up to a persistent finish on black fruits, licorice, and pepper. The magnum format will allow a particularly interesting evolution at the table with lamb carré, duck breast, rib steak, roasted pigeon, or mushroom dishes.
Grape varieties: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot
